Fuel-mixture vaporizer for gas engines



March 4, 1952 R. G. ELLIOTT ET AL 2,587,713

FUEL-MIXTURE VAPORIZER FOR GAS ENGINES Filed Jan. 3, 1950 INVENTORS Raymond GCEZZ i052 James H..B72D6ZZ ATTORN EYS Patented Mar. 4, 1952 FUEL-MIXTURE VAPORIZER FOR GAS GINES Raymond G. Elliott, Midpines, and James A. Bennett, Mercecl, Calif.

Application January 3, 1950, Serial No. 136,612 9 Claims. (01. 21938) This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a novel fuel-mixture vaporizer for gas engines, especially in motor vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel-mixture vaporizer which embodies a novel electro-mechanical device for the accomplishment of the purpose; such devic e including a shallow metallic cup mounted in position to be impinged by the mixture discharged from the carburetor, and said cup being heated by an electric resistance element associated with the cup in a unique manner.

A further object of the invention is to employ separate mounting elements, which support the device in position, as the electric leads for the resistance heating element.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a fuel-mixture vaporizer which assures easier and quicker starting of the engine when cold; the device also increasing the efficiency of the engine, and reduces fuel consumption under normal operating conditions.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a fuel-mixture vaporizer for gas engines which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable fuel-mixture vaporizer for gas engines, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the device as in use; the electric circuit being shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device detached.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the device, indicated generally at A, is adapted to be suspended in the intake manifold I, of a gas engine, from Within the fuel mix entry port or throat 2 which said manifold includes; such port being in communication with the downwardly extending neck 3 of a down-draft type carburetor (not shown). The manifold l and neck 3 are connected by matching attachment flanges 4 and 5 secured together by studs '6 having a nut 1 on the exposed end thereof.

The device A comprises, in the form of a unitary body, a circular, relatively shallow metallic cup 8 of a substantial diameter but lesser than that 2 of the port 2; such cup 8 being disposed, in the port 2, radially of its axis and facing in the direction of fuel mixture flow in the neck 3; i. e. facing upwardly.

The bottom 9 of the cup 8 is flat and of substantial surface area, whereby it is impinged by a substantial portion of the fuel mixture flow downwardly in the neck 3 of the carburetor. The bottom of the cup 9 is formed, adjacent its periphery, with an annular row of perforations ID, and a mounting sleeve ll of metal is fixed to, and depends from, said bottom 9 of the cup inwardly of the perforations l0, being symmetrical to the row of the latter.

The mounting sleeve H closely surrounds a vertical tube l2 of dielectric heat resistant material; such tube |2 extending from the bottom 9 of the cup 8 downwardly to a termination below the sleeve ll.

At the bottom thereof the dielectric tube l2 seats in, and is supported by, a bottom cap [3 of metal; the adjacent ends of the sleeve II and bottom cap I 3 being spaced and thus maintained against electrical contact.

Metal straps l4 and i5 are fixed to the mounting sleeve II and bottom cap l3 respectively, and extend upwardly in diverging relation on opposite sides of the device; such straps having laterally outwardly projecting upper end tongues l6 and I! which engage, in supported relation, between the adjacent portions of the attachment flanges 4 and 5, as shown. The tongues I6 and I? have holes I8 through which the studs pass. In this manner the device is effectively supported in position, and additionally the straps l4 and 15 provide electrical leads as follows:

The tongue #6 of strap l4 passes between flanges 4 and 5, from which it is insulated, or maintained out of electrical contact, by opposed dielectric gaskets i9 and 20 mounted in connection with the flanges and symmetrical thereto as usual. Similarly, tongue ll of strap l5 also passes between the gaskets on the opposite side but is then grounded to the engine, as by clamping under the adjacent nut l, in the manner indicated at 2!.

It will thus be recognized that the metallic sleeve H and the bottom cap I3 comprise electrically separated parts; i. e. form the electrical leads from exteriorly of the carburetor and manifold structure leading to the device within said structure.

The dielectric tube H. has a quantity of as- I bestos 22 disposed therein, with the upper surface of such asbestos adjacent, but short of, the bottom 9 of the cup 8.

A resistance heating element 23, in the form of a helical coil, extends from side to side within the dielectric tube l2 adjacent the top of the latter; a portion of said coil being embedded in the asbestos, while another portion projects into the space thereabove immediatel below the cup bottom 9. One end of the resistance heating element 23 is connected, as at 24, to the cup bottom 9, while the other end of said element is connected to the bottom 53, as at 25. In this way the resistance heating element 23 is in circuit between the metal straps M and I5, and the latter are imposed in the following energizing circuit:

A circuit lead 26 extends from a ground 21 at one end to connection with the exterior portion of the tongue I6 of strap [4, as at 28; such lead 26 having the storage battery 29 interposed therein, as well as the ignition switch 30 when the invention is employed on a motor vehicle.

A resistor 3| of suitable capacity is interposed in the lead between the switch and the connection 28; there being a fuse 32 between said switch and resistor. The circuit is completed by the grounding of tongue H. Thus, when the switch 30 is closed the resistance heating element 23 is energized, heating the cup bottom 9.

The fuel mixture flowing downwardly in the carburetor neck 3 impinges into the cup 8 against the heated bottom 9 thereof, effectively vaporizing such mixture; the vaporized mixture rebounding and spilling out of the cup, or passing downwardly through the row of perforations l0 into the manifold I. By so vaporizing the fuel mixture the engine starts much easier, and additionally when in operation functions more efflciently.

The asbestos 22 in the dielectric tube l2 prevents heat loss in a downward direction and assures that the cup bottom 9 obtains maximum heating from the element 23; the embedding of the latter in the asbestos serving to stabilize said element.

The invention provides a very practical and reliable device for the vaporizing of the fuel mixture in a gas engine, and such device is designed so that it may be manufactured with economy, and readily installed.

' From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A vaporizer adapted to be mounted in a fuelmixture passage of a gas engine, comprising a body having an electric resistance heating element therein, one portion of the body being of substantial surface area and heated by said resistance element, said portion of the body being disposed so that the fuel-mixture impinges thereagainst when the bodyis mounted in the passage, means to mount the body in said position in the passage, and an energizing circuit for the resistance element; said circuit including said mounting means and said. mQ lIl eing means including a pair of separate members se= ing a tube of dielectric, heat resistant material,

a metallic cup overlying one end of the tube, a metallic cap on the other end of the tube, a metallic sleeve surrounding the tube in connection with said cup, said sleeve and the cap being spaced at adjacent ends, mounting elements of metal secured to and projecting from the sleeve and cap, and a resistance heating element in the tube connected between said sleeve and cap.

5. A vaporizer adapted to be mounted in a fuel-mixture passage of a gas engine, comprising a tube of dielectric, heat resistant material, a metallic cup overlying one end of the tube, a metallic cap on the other end of the tube, a metallic sleeve surrounding the tube in connection with said cup, said sleeve and the cap being spaced at adjacent ends, mounting elements of metal secured to and projecting from the sleeve and cap, and a resistance heating element in the tube connected between said sleeve and cap: said mounting elements being straps adapted to engage between attachment flanges of a carburetor and manifold assembly.

6. A vaporizer, as in claim 5, including means to insulate one strap from said attachment flanges. v

'7. A vaporizer adapted to be mounted in a fuelmixture passage of a gas engine, comprising a tube of dielectric, heat resistant material, a metallic cup overlying one end of the tube, a metallic cap on the other end of the tube, a metallic sleeve surrounding the tube in connection with said cup, said sleeve and the cap being spaced at adjacent ends, mounting elements of metal secured to and projecting from the sleeve and cap. and a resistance heating element in the tube connected between said sleeve and cap; the metallic cup being of greater diameter than the sleeve and facing away therefrom, said cup hav-* ing a bottom which is perforate radially of the sleeve.

8. A vaporizer adapted to be mounted in a fuel-mixture passage of a gas engine, comprising a tube of dielectric, heat resistant material, a metallic cup overlying one end of the tube, a metallic cap on the other end of the tube, a metallic sleeve surrounding the tube in connection with said cup, said sleeve and the cap being spaced at adjacent ends, a resistance heating element in the tube adjacent its upper end in heating relation to the bottom of the cup, said element being electrically connected between thecup and the cap, mounting elements of metal: secured to the sleeve and cap and extending therefrom, each mounting element including a flat tongue adapted to engage between and pro-- ject outwardly from, the attachment flanges of a carburetor and manifold assembly, and means" to insulate one tongue from said assembly.

9. A vaporizer, as in claim 8, including a quan-' tiiar of heat insulating material in the tube; the

6 resistance heating element being a helical coil UNITED STATES PATENTS transversely disposed in the tube, and said mate- Number Name Date rial partially embedding a longitudinal portion 1 367 789 Torres Feb 8 1921 said 1 417 308 Ellis er, 5i

-y 23, 1922 RAYMOND ELLIOTT- 5 1,424,898 German Aug, 3, 1922 JAMES BENNETT" 1,452,883 Loesch Apr, 24 19 3 REFERENCES CITED 1,625,448 l Apr. 19, 1927 The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 10 

